Acute toxicity and total fumonisin content of the culture material of Fusarium verticillioides (SACC.) Nirenberg (CABI-IMI 392668) isolated from rice in Nigeria.

In a previous survey for mycotoxigenic fungi contaminating mouldy guinea corn and rice in Niger State, Nigeria, Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg was found to be one of the most toxic metabolite producing fungi isolated from the studied staples. The culture material of the fungus was therefore subjected to acute toxicity studies in chicks and mice in this work. The total fumonisin concentration of the culture material was also determined. When administered orally and intraperitoneally, the extract was acutely toxic to mice and chicks and the organs affected were liver, kidney and gastrointestinal tract. Oral administration of the fungal extract to mice and chicks caused mortality at 833.33mg/kg and 2500mg/kg body weight respectively. The intraperitoneal LD50 values of the extract in both animals were between 45.40–87.90 mg/kg body weight with the mice being more susceptible. The total fumonisin content of the fungal residue as analyzed using veratox competitive direct enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (CD-ELISA) was 8.233ppm.